Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Poland maintains rates, confirms deflation to continue

Poland's central bank left its key reference rate unchanged at 1.50 percent, reiterating that the current level of interest rates "is conducive to keeping the Polish economy on the sustainable growth path and maintaining macroeconomic balance."
The National Bank of Poland (NBP), which cut rates by 50 basis points in 2015, also confirmed that it expects inflation to remain negative in coming quarters due to the previous decline in commodity prices and economic growth should remain stable, helped by higher consumer demand from improving employment, higher wages and social benefits.
Due to the negative output gap and moderate wage growth, there is no inflationary pressures in Poland, the NBP said, adding the main reason for deflation is the fall in commodity prices and low economic growth among Poland's trading partners.
In its March inflation report, the bank's monetary policy council lowered its forecast for 2016 consumer prices to fall by an average of minus 0.4 percent from the November 2015 forecast of an increase of 1.1 percent.
In March Poland's consumer prices dropped by 0.9 percent, slightly up from a decline of 0.8 percent in February, extending the cycle of deflation that began in July 2014 and well below the central bank's target of 2.50 percent, plus/minus 1 percentage point.For 2017 the central bank expects inflation of 1.3 percent, down from the previous forecast of 1.5 percent, and in 2018 inflation of 1.7 percent. Poland's economy expanded by an annual rate of 3.9 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, up from 3.5 percent in the third quarter, and the central bank said data on industry and construction output "signal that GDP growth in 2016 Q1 might have been slightly lower than in the previous quarter." This year Poland's Gross Domestic Product is projected to expand by 3.8 percent, up from the November forecast of 3.3 percent, and in 2017 by 3.8 percent, up from 3.5 percent. For 2018 the economy is seen growing slower at 3.4 percent. The upward revision in the growth forecast was mainly due to looser fiscal policy and a depreciation of the zloty's exchange rate. The zloty began falling in mid-2014 against the U.S. dollar but since mid-January this year it has been firming, both against the dollar and the euro. The zloty was trading at 3.73 to the dollar today, up by 5.4 percent since the start of this year. Against the euro, the zloty was quoted at 4.27, up 5.2 percent since late January but largely unchanged since the start of the year as the fall in early January has been recouped. In recent months eight new members on the central bank's monetary policy council have been appointed either by the ruling Law & Justice party or by its ally, President Duda. The six-year term of the governor, Marek Belka, expires on June 11. A favorite to replace Belka is Adam Glapinski, a member of the council from 2010 until February this year, who was appointed to the bank's management board on March 1.

The National Bank of Poland issued the following statement:

"The Council decided to keep the NBP interest rates unchanged at:
 reference rate at 1.50%;
 lombard rate at 2.50%; deposit rate at 0.50%; rediscount rate at 1.75%.
Global economic growth remains moderate, amid continuing heightened uncertainty
about its outlook. Uncertainty regards, above all, the scale of economic slowdown in the
emerging economies and its translation into lower activity in the advanced economies.
In the euro area, economic recovery continues. Moderate growth is expected to
continue in the coming quarters, although the slowdown in the emerging economies has
a negative impact on the region's economic outlook. In the United States, after a slightly
weaker GDP growth in the second half of 2015, economic conditions are still relatively
good. Instead, economic slowdown in China continues, while Russia and Brazil are still
in recession.
Prices of oil and many other commodities in the global markets – despite some
increase in the last two months – are still markedly lower than a year ago. Low
commodity prices, combined with moderate global economic activity, are the main factor
behind very low consumer price growth in many economies. In some economies –
including in the euro area – price growth is negative.
Against this background, the European Central Bank eased its monetary policy in
March, lowering interest rates and increasing the scale of quantitative easing. At the
same time, the Federal Reserve – after increasing interest rates in December – is keeping
rates unchanged, while indicating a possible interest rate rise in the coming quarters.
The decisions of the major central banks and the increase in oil prices have recently
led to some improvement in global financial market sentiment and an increase in asset
prices, including stock prices and exchange rates of emerging economies.
In Poland, stable economic growth continues, although the data on industrial
production and construction output signal that GDP growth in 2016 Q1 might have been
slightly lower than in the previous quarter. Stable consumption growth and rising
investment continue to support economic growth. The rise in consumer demand is
driven by steady growth in employment and improving consumer sentiment. Growth in
investment is supported by sound financial standing of enterprises, their high capacity
utilization and the relatively favourable prospects for demand. This is accompanied by stable lending growth. At the same time, economic growth is hampered by weakening
external demand.

As the output gap remains negative and average nominal wage growth is moderate,
currently there is no inflationary pressure in the economy. Annual consumer price
growth and producer price growth remain negative. However, external factors –
particularly the earlier sharp fall in global commodity prices and low price growth in the
environment of the Polish economy – continue to be the main reason for deflation. This
is accompanied by very low inflation expectations. The persisting deflation has not
adversely affected decisions of economic agents so far.
In the Council’s assessment, price growth will stay negative in the coming quarters
due to the earlier fall in global commodity prices. At the same time, it will be
accompanied by stable economic growth, including an expected rise in consumer
demand growth driven by rising employment, forecasted acceleration of wage growth
and an increase in social benefits. This notwithstanding, the downside risks to the global
economic conditions and the volatility of commodity prices remain the sources of
uncertainty for the domestic economy and price developments.

The Council continues to assess that – given the available data and forecasts – the
current level of interest rates is conducive to keeping the Polish economy on the
sustainable growth path and maintaining macroeconomic balance."www.CentralBankNews.info